Breastfeeding ups IQ by 8 pts over baby formula
Source: Chronicle News Service / Ngangom Suraj

Imphal, January 08 2025: Despite the challenges many working mothers face in maintaining breastfeeding routines, the longterm advantages for child development make it a crucial practice as experts have revealed that exclusively breastfed children can gain up to 8 IQ points more than those fed baby formula, highlighting the significant cognitive benefits of breastfeeding.

Experts suggest that breast milk not only enhances brain development of the new-born but also strengthens the bond between mother and child, contributing to better emotional and physical health for both, as a saying goes, "Like mother's love there is no substitution for mother's milk" .

In an interview with The People's Chronicle, Mother s Care Children Hospital & Research Centre managing director Dr Ratankumar Khumanthem explained that breastfeeding is so important that it can affect the infant mortality rate of a region.

Referring to report of the National Family Health Survey-5 2019-2020, he said infant mortality of Manipur is 30 per thousand births which is not satisfactory as the 2015-2016 survey report put the rate at 25 per thousand birth.

The managing director also expressed concern that the national average for exclusive breastfeeding in India is around 70 per cent of infants during the first 6 months of life, meaning that roughly 30 per cent of babies are formula fed (artificial baby milk).

According to Dr Ratankumar, breastfeeding is defined as exclusive breast feeding of a baby for the first 6 months and continued during 6 to 11 months or if possible until 2 years old besides other supplements required for the baby's development.

He said that exclusive breastfeeding can reduce the risk of death due to diarrhoea by 14 times, acute respiratory infections (ARI) by 4 times, other infections by 3 times and can decrease risk of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a serious gastrointestinal problem that mostly affects premature babies.

He pointed out that as long as a baby (from second day of birth till the 3rd month) passes urine 6 times a day after feeding with mother's milk it can be learnt that it is fed enough.

He also cautioned that no amount of water or honey or other supplement should be given to a baby during its first six months as feeding through other medium other than the mother's breast may be infectious arid can be harmful in the later years off development of the baby.

Breastfeeding Promotion Alliance of Manipur (BPAM) secretary Dr Khuraijam Ranjana Devi, who is also the Hospital's research and development head and laboratory director, said that a woman does not simply start producing milk just because she had given birth, rather it's an emotion which is passed from the baby.

When a new born starts to suckle for the first time, it triggers emotional and physiological responses in the mother.

This stimulation activates the release of hormones such as oxytocin, which promotes the secretion of milk.

The act of suckling not only nourishes the baby but also fosters a deep bond between mother and child, helping to regulate milk production based on the infant's needs, she added.

Highlighting that a mother's milk contains highly nutritious compounds, she explained that during a breastfeeding session, it is important for the baby to nurse until the milk flows less or stops completely.

This is because breast milk changes throughout the feeding, with the initial milk being rich in lactose and water to hydrate the baby.

As the session progresses, the milk becomes higher in fat and calories, which are essential for the baby's growth and development.

The different stages of milk provide the necessary nutrients for various aspects of the baby's health, making it beneficial for the baby to nurse fully.

She further explained that breastfeeding can reduce post-delivery bleeding and anaemia in mothers, besides helping delay next pregnancy, protective effect against breast and ovarian cancer, reduce risk of Osteoporosis, help lose weight, strengthen mother-baby bond and also the time and money one would spend to prepare formula milk.

However, mothers who are under anti-cancer drugs, radiotherapy, lithium therapy and anti-thyroid drug should best avoid breastfeeding their babies, she cautioned.

Regarding the strategies to encourage breastfeeding, Dr Ranjana suggested that development of breastfeeding support clinics/lactation management clinics in hospitals run by skilled/trained counsellors, developing community led initiatives, establishing national and state level resource centres, and elimination of misinformation could be beneficial.

Moreover, family members along with the community should also play their respective roles in promoting breastfeeding, she stressed, while clarifying that the concept that women after birth tend to lose their youthfulness, become obese with saggy breast are nothing but myth.

It may be mentioned that Mother's Care Children Hospital & Research Centre is among the few private run establishments to offer breastfeeding room, also called lactation room, for its employees who are in need of breastfeeding their babies during working hours.

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